Rare SPENCER DAVIS GROUP Letters From Edith 1969 UK LP
£
185
$
245
£ 185
Sold For
Jun 1, 2004
Sold Date
May 22, 2004
Start Date
£ 10
Start price
10
Number Of Bids
Great Britain
Country Of Seller
eBay
Auctioned at
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Description
Spencer Davis Group - Letters From Edith
(CBS S63842).This 1969 album from '60s beat band The Spencer Davis Group was unreleased in the UK and was thought to only exist as just 50 white label copies until earlier this year when an ultra-rare orange label stock copy came to light and was featured in an article in Record Collector magazine (April 2004). I am now auctioning this unique copy of the album which was featured in the article:'After the departure of Steve and Muff Winwood in 1967 the Spencer Davis Group underwent several line up changes, and by early 1969 parted company with their record label United Artists in the UK and looked around for a new deal. After touring America the band spent some time in New York cutting tracks for their new album with Van Morrison and John Cale producer Lew Merrenstein. A heady mix of laid-back blues, country rock songs, organ-driven instrumentals, plus one amazing progressive workout, they pushed the sound created on earlier albums to new limits. The album was released in the US on Columbia's budget label Date as the provocatively-titled 'Funky' after one of instrumental tracks, but was soon deleted after disappointing sales.
In the UK CBS were expecting to sign the band for a record deal, but the story goes that the deal fell through and the planned album was scrapped, and became the legendary 'lost' SDG album. Until recently it was thought that CBS only got as far as making white label test pressings for internal use, however an orange label stock copy bearing the correct catalogue number has surfaced which confirms a few facts. The label text reveals that the album was clearly named after the second track on side one, and was never officially called simply 'The Spencer Davis Group' as has been suggested.
It also reveals the correct titles of the tracks which were erroneously listed on the 'Taking Out Time' RPM CD compilation in 1994, namely the impressive instrumental cuts 'New Jersey Turnpike' 'recorded live' (according to the label text) which was rechristened 'Roadsville USA' and 'Funky' which became 'Firefly'. The band's guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Ray Fenwick explained that when the tracks were originally prepared for CD it was discovered that some had more than one title, which all added to the confusion and mystery surrounding the project.
There has been a resurgence of interest in the album recently including a special heavy vinyl pressing in Italy with artwork based on the original US pressing, and the complete album on a new CD as 'Funky' (Angel Air SJPCD021) with bonus tracks. As the infamous white label copies (of which only 50 were made) currently command price tags of £200+, estimates show that at auction this somewhat rarer beast could fetch considerably more.'
The record is in excellent + condition (and seems to have hardly been played) with no marks on the vinyl and clean, stain-free labels (just one very feint spindle mark on side two). Unlike the short-lived US release there was no sleeve artwork designed for the album (it was scrapped before they got that far) and so the record is housed in a plain white sleeve with a handwitten catalogue number and the name D Howells (possibly an engineer or someone connected with the recording). There is thought to be only one other copy of this orange label stock copy known to exist which is owned by song writer and SDG member Ray Fenwick himself which he received at the time of recording. If you have any questions please contact me before bidding.
IMPORTANT If you intend to pay by PayPal please note that I must charge an extra 3.9% of total cost (including the postal charge) + 20p to recover the PayPal transaction fees that they will charge me. PLEASE NOTE CONDITIONS OF SALE: winner to pay all postage/packing costs (see below)
I can only accept payment as:-
- cheque in pounds sterling
- UK postal order in pounds sterling
- PayPal (+ 3.9% + 20p of total to cover PayPal's fees)
- International Money Order in pounds sterling only
(drawn on a UK bank) - cash in pounds sterling
- cash in US dollars
- cash in Euros Postal Charges UK Europe USA / Canada Australia / Japan etc £2.50 £3.50 £5.50 £6.00
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